ROST vs. WSM: Ross Stores vs. Williams-Sonoma Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) both belong to the Specialty Retail industry, though ROST is classified under Apparel Retail while WSM falls under Homefurnishing Retail.

Company profile comparison for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Profile Item	ROST	WSM
Name	Ross Stores Inc.	Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Apparel Retail	Homefurnishing Retail
Market Capitalization	74.13 billion USD	29.92 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	August 8, 1985	July 7, 1983
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ROST

WSM

GSPC

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
Total Return (1Y)	49.04%	34.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.07%	54.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	16.09%	22.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ROST

WSM

GSPC

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.67%	34.01%
Beta (5Y)	0.83	1.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-40.66%	-51.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.30M	1.10M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ROST and WSM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.62	0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.70	1.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 42.63% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 54.96% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

42.63%

Max: 62.17%
ROST: 42.63%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

54.96%

Max: 62.17%
WSM: 54.96%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.85% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 14.73% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.85%

Max: 16.94%
ROST: 10.85%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.73%

Max: 16.94%
WSM: 14.73%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 13.58% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 17.27% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.58%

Max: 21.45%
ROST: 13.58%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

17.27%

Max: 21.45%
WSM: 17.27%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
ROE (TTM)	42.63%	54.96%
ROA (TTM)	12.79%	16.64%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.85%	14.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	13.58%	17.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)	33.39%	45.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 7.67% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.24% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 4.59% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.67%	1.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.76%	-3.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)	4.59%	0.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.70%	2.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 1.61 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.45 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.61

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
ROST: 1.61
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.45

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
WSM: 1.45
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 0.70 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.71 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.70

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
ROST: 0.70
Min: 0.01

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.71

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
WSM: 0.71
Min: 0.01

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.61	1.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.70	0.71
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.12	0.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 0.72% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.10% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.72%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
ROST: 0.72%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.10%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
WSM: 1.10%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 20.56% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 29.13% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

20.56%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
ROST: 20.56%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

29.13%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
WSM: 29.13%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.72%	1.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	20.56%	29.13%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 27.94 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 26.06 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

27.94

Max: 40.50
ROST: 27.94
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.06

Max: 40.50
WSM: 26.06
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Ross Stores (ROST) at 3.02 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 3.74 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.02

Max: 4.32
ROST: 3.02
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.74

Max: 4.32
WSM: 3.74
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Ross Stores (ROST) at 10.96 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 13.98 prices even higher, above its industry range.

ROST

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.96

ROST: 10.96
Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.98

WSM: 13.98
Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

Ross Stores (ROST) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ross Stores (ROST) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	ROST	WSM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	27.94	26.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.02	3.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	10.96	13.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.70%	3.57%